Ohio State football: Recruitment of Pryor was NCAA issue

Ted Sarniak was the lifeline to coveted quarterback Terrelle Pryor as Ohio State football coaches worked hard to land the nation's top prospect in 2007 and '08.

Ted Sarniak was the lifeline to coveted quarterback Terrelle Pryor as Ohio State football coaches worked hard to land the nation's top prospect in 2007 and '08.

The Jeannette, Pa., businessman had befriended Pryor when he was a high-school freshman. Sarniak then found himself advising Pryor when Ohio State's Jim Tressel and other college coaches came calling.

But according to documents released yesterday by Ohio State in response to public-records requests, by late summer of 2008 the NCAA enforcement staff had concluded that Pryor was an ill-gotten gain. They thought Ohio State had converted Sarniak into a booster who was representing its interests, not Pryor's.

The university avoided any punishment because it convinced the NCAA membership-services office that Sarniak was a surrogate father to Pryor, not a booster. On Sept. 17, 2008, the NCAA cleared Ohio State of violating recruiting rules.

"Had we lost this case, the definition of a booster would have been the lowest possible standard," athletic director Gene Smith wrote that day in an email congratulating the Ohio State staff.

Chris Rogers, the assistant athletic director in charge of compliance, wrote that he wanted to meet with Tressel to discuss why Sarniak was not viewed as a booster. He noted that small details "could have potentially changed the outcome of this case."

The documents provide an inside look at how Tressel and his assistants pursued Pryor, who ultimately played a central role in a player memorabilia-sales scandal that led to Tressel's resignation.

Coaches' contact with prospective players is restricted, but the records show that Tressel regularly turned to Sarniak when he wanted messages passed to Pryor or wanted him to call. Tressel called Sarniak 24 times once he began recruiting Pryor in 2007.

The NCAA enforcement staff argued that Ohio State could have recruited Pryor without turning to Sarniak, because he was not a coach or family member. Sarniak could not be reached for comment yesterday.

At one point, NCAA staff members said Pryor and Sarniak did not disclose their unofficial visits to Penn State and Pittsburgh. Ohio State countered that they might not have understood investigators' questions. Pryor and Sarniak both acknowledged the visits in other interviews.

Jackie Thumes, NCAA associate enforcement director, wrote that Pryor possibly violated NCAA rules by being dishonest but said it was "a separate matter to be resolved on another day." Records do not reflect what became of the matter.

Amid the probe, Ohio State informed Sarniak that he couldn't provide anything of value - including a cellphone, gifts, meals, money or transportation - to Pryor, his relatives or friends.

If the NCAA had found that Pryor was improperly recruited, Ohio State could have faced penalties. Pryor said Sarniak did not pressure him to attend Ohio State.

When Tressel failed to disclose his knowledge of possible NCAA violations to his superiors in April 2010, he did tell Sarniak.

The Dispatch revealed March 25 that Tressel forwarded emails to Sarniak in which Columbus lawyer Christopher Cicero reported at least two players had sold memorabilia to tattoo-parlor owner Edward Rife. The records released yesterday contain no additional emails between Tressel and Sarniak.

University spokesman Jim Lynch said that Ohio State has provided all records sought by ESPN. Some were withheld because of the student-privacy law and attorney-client privilege.

The fallout from the memorabilia-sales scandal has included Tressel's resignation and Pryor's attempt to turn pro. Four current players are suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season.

Ohio State also has vacated last season's wins for fielding ineligible players, and placed itself on two years' probation.

The NCAA did not cite Ohio State for the worst-possible violations - loss of institutional control and failure to monitor. However, the NCAA still could add penalties after a Committee on Infractions hearing on Aug. 12.